按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
frequented after dark。 The streets were so narrow in the provincial
towns； and even in Paris； that robbers could jump from the roofs on
one side to those on the other。 This perilous occupation was long the
amusement of King Charles IX。 in his youth； if we may believe the
memoirs of his day。
Fearing to present himself too late to the old silversmith； the young
nobleman now went up to the door of the Malemaison intending to knock；
when； on looking at it； his attention was excited by a sort of vision；
which the writers of those days would have called 〃cornue；〃perhaps
with reference to horns and hoofs。 He rubbed his eyes to clear his
sight； and a thousand diverse sentiments passed through his mind at
the spectacle before him。 On each side of the door was a face framed
in a species of loophole。 At first he took these two faces for
grotesque masks carved in stone； so angular； distorted； projecting；
motionless； discolored were they； but the cold air and the moonlight
presently enabled him to distinguish the faint white mist which living
breath sent from two purplish noses； then he saw in each hollow face；
beneath the shadow of the eyebrows； two eyes of porcelain blue casting
clear fire； like those of a wolf crouching in the brushwood as it
hears the baying of the hounds。 The uneasy gleam of those eyes was
turned on him so fixedly that； after receiving it for fully a minute；
during which he examined the singular sight； he felt like a bird at
which a setter points； a feverish tumult rose in his soul； but he
quickly repressed it。 The two faces； strained and suspicious； were
doubtless those of Cornelius and his sister。
The young man feigned to be looking about him to see where he was； and
whether this were the house named on a card which he drew from his
pocket and pretended to read in the moonlight； then he walked straight
to the door and struck three blows upon it； which echoed within the
house as if it were the entrance to a cave。 A faint light crept
beneath the threshold； and an eye appeared at a small and very strong
iron grating。
〃Who is there？〃
〃A friend； sent by Oosterlinck； of Brussels。〃
〃What do you want？〃
〃To enter。〃
〃Your name？〃
〃Philippe Goulenoire。〃
〃Have you brought credentials？〃
〃Here they are。〃
〃Pass them through the box。〃
〃Where is it？〃
〃To your left。〃
Philippe Goulenoire put the letter through the slit of an iron box
above which was a loophole。
〃The devil！〃 thought he； 〃plainly the king comes here； as they say he
does； he couldn't take more precautions at Plessis。〃
He waited for more than a quarter of an hour in the street。 After that
lapse of time； he heard Cornelius saying to his sister； 〃Close the
traps of the door。〃
A clinking of chains resounded from within。 Philippe heard the bolts
run； the locks creak； and presently a small low door； iron…bound；
opened to the slightest distance through which a man could pass。 At
the risk of tearing off his clothing； Philippe squeezed himself rather
than walked into La Malemaison。 A toothless old woman with a hatchet
face； the eyebrows projecting like the handles of a cauldron； the nose
and chin so near together that a nut could scarcely pass between them；
a pallid； haggard creature； her hollow temples composed apparently
of only bones and nerves；guided the 〃soi…disant〃 foreigner silently
into a lower room； while Cornelius followed prudently behind him。
〃Sit there；〃 she said to Philippe； showing him a three…legged stool
placed at the corner of a carved stone fireplace； where there was no
fire。
On the other side of the chimney…piece was a walnut table with twisted
legs； on which was an egg in a plate and ten or a dozen little bread…
sops； hard and dry and cut with studied parsimony。 Two stools placed
beside the table； on one of which the old woman sat down； showed that
the miserly pair were eating their suppers。 Cornelius went to the door
and pushed two iron shutters into their place； closing； no doubt； the
loopholes through which they had been gazing into the street； then he
returned to his seat。 Philippe Goulenoire （so called） next beheld the
brother and sister dipping their sops into the egg in turn； and with
the utmost gravity and the same precision with which soldiers dip
their spoons in regular rotation into the mess…pot。 This performance
was done in silence。 But as he ate； Cornelius examined the false
apprentice with as much care and scrutiny as if he were weighing an
old coin。
Philippe； feeling that an icy mantle had descended on his shoulders；
was tempted to look about him； but； with the circumspection dictated
by all amorous enterprises； he was careful not to glance； even
furtively； at the walls； for he fully understood that if Cornelius
detected him； he would not allow so inquisitive a person to remain in
his house。 He contented himself； therefore； by looking first at the
egg and then at the old woman； occasionally contemplating his future
master。
Louis XI。's silversmith resembled that monarch。 He had even acquired
the same gestures； as often happens where persons dwell together in a
sort of intimacy。 The thick eyebrows of the Fleming almost covered his
eyes； but by raising them a little he could flash out a lucid；
penetrating； powerful glance； the glance of men habituated to silence；
and to whom the phenomenon of the concentration of inward forces has
become familiar。 His thin lips； vertically wrinkled； gave him an air
of indescribable craftiness。 The lower part of his face bore a vague
resemblance to the muzzle of a fox； but his lofty； projecting
forehead； with many lines； showed great and splendid qualities and a
nobility of soul； the springs of which had been lowered by experience
until the cruel teachings of life had driven it back into the farthest
recesses of this most singular human being。 He was certainly not an
ordinary miser； and his passion covered； no doubt； extreme enjoyments
and secret conceptions。
〃What is the present rate of Venetian sequins？〃 he said abruptly to
his future apprentice。
〃Three…quarters at Brussels； one in Ghent。〃
〃What is the freight on the Scheldt？〃
〃Three sous parisis。〃
〃Any news at Ghent？〃
〃The brother of Lieven d'Herde is ruined。〃
〃Ah！〃
After giving vent to that exclamation； the old man covered his knee
with the skirt of his dalmatian； a species of robe made of black
velvet； open in front； with large sleeves and no collar； the sumptuous
material being defaced and shiny。 These remains of a magnificent
costume； formerly worn by him as president of the tribunal of the
Parchons； functions which had won him the enmity of the Duke of
Burgundy； was now a mere rag。
Philippe was not cold； he perspired in his harness； dreading further
questions。 Until then the brief information obtained that morning from
a Jew whose life he had formerly saved； had sufficed him； thanks to
his good memory and the perfect knowledge the Jew possessed of the
manners and habits of Maitre Cornelius。 But the young man who； in the
first flush of his enterprise； had feared nothing was beginning to
perceive the difficulties it presented。 The solemn gravity of the
terrible Fleming reacted upon him。 He felt himself under lock and key；
and remembered how the grand provost Tristan and his rope were at the
orders of Maitre Cornelius。
〃Have you supped？〃 asked the silversmith； in a tone which signified；
〃You are not to sup。〃
The old maid trembled in spite of her brother's tone； she looked at
the new inmate as if to gauge the capacity of the stomach she might
have to fill； and said with a specious smile：
〃You have not stolen your name； your hair and moustache are as black
as the devil's tail。〃
〃I have supped；〃 he said。
〃Well then；〃 replied the miser； 〃you can come back and see me to…
morrow。 I have done without an apprentice for some years。 Besides； I
wish to sleep upon the matter。〃
〃Hey！ by Saint…Bavon； monsieur； I am a Fleming； I don't know a soul in
this place； the chains are up in the streets； and I shall be put in
prison。 However；〃 he added； frightened at the eagerness he was showing
in his words； 〃if it is your good pleasure； of course I will go。〃
The oath seemed to affect the old man singularly。
〃Come； come； by Saint…Bavon indeed； you shall sleep here。〃
〃But〃 said his sister； alarmed。
〃Silence；〃 replied Cornelius。 〃In his letter Oosterlinck tells me he
will answer for this young man。 You know；〃 he whispered in his
sister's ear； 〃we have a hundred thousand francs belonging to
Oosterlinck？ That's a hostage； hey！〃
〃And suppose he steals those Bavarian jewels？ Tiens； he looks more
like a thief than a Fleming。〃
〃Hush！〃 exclaimed the old man； listening attentively to some sound。
Both misers listened。 A moment after the 〃Hush！〃 uttered by Cornelius；
a noise produced by the